Hello IDEA,

This is from an ordinary citizen who is wondering about where the African intellectuals are, while Africa is being robed and in its way to be recolonized by the neocolonialists.

Dear all, I read the editorial about the Africom in your website. The statement below is absolutely correct.

"Africom could very well be a military-cum-development command, but the very dependence of African nations on the United States for capacity and capabilities could undermine their independence and sovereignty. After all, as Louis Henkin et al aptly put it, “A State would not be independent in the legal sense if it was placed in a condition of dependence on another Power, if it ceased itself to exercise within its own territory the summa potestas or sovereignty, i.e. if it lost the right to exercise its own judgment in coming to the decisions which the government of its territory entails.” "

In fact, it is more than that. The establishment of this command in Africa is to directly control the continent's natural resource and politics by military means. We have seen in history how the US influenced many countries in all continents, thus there is no doubt about it. If the claim that "the U. S. African command ‘will in no way infringe on the sovereignty of any African nation.’ On the contrary, Africom’s mission is ‘to build capacity and capabilities among African partners so that they are able to tackle Africa’s security challenges.’ In fact, they say, ‘the U. S. Africa command’s role is to be a supporting one" was true, the US would have granted technical and economic support directly to the countries' overall development than establishing military camps. The US has not missed that it would have been much better to support the existing local instruments improve their efficiency. However, that is not the agenda.

Let me tell you what the official in charge of this command told the Ethiopian leaders during their short visit. The person was proud of what the Africom did in the Sahara region recently. Africom armed thousands of Militias to fight against terrorism (my words but direct message). Is Africa short of Klashinkov or M-14? Are we not short of food, infrastructure, clean water, schools and Hospitals? I am ashamed of those African leaders who are just hosting and promoting such force to be established in Africa, which is equal to a new phase and form of colonialism in the name of economic and security support. We have heard enough about the empty promises to Iraq , Afghanistan and else where. The US claimed that it spent hundreds of millions for reconstruction in these mentioned countries is not true. I have watched a documentary-an interview of an Afghan health minister saying that the mentioned millions have not reached Afghanistan, in fact, according to him, he has got this news like anyone from media.

Dear brothers in IDEA, this is not a simple problem and you African intellectuals have a moral responsibility to defend the African people by raising your voices. This does not require fighting with individual African states. You all can have a forum of African intellectuals where you all can discuss African issues and work and support the African Union to make it stronger so that the Union deal with problems and defend the continent. This communication only requires you to have a web page. 

For now, and as an urgent case the African intellectuals should raise its serious concern against any military intervention in the continent. Gun solution has destroyed Africa and its people and this in the name of capacity building and all the flowing good words will never bring a remedy. Unite as fast as you can and raise your voices by writing a letter to AU with a copy to the individual states. I urge this must be done so quickly and you intellectuals will continue forming the forum and discuss selected important issues. If you people invite African politicians from individual states, regional authorities and the AU from the start, it will be very help full. This will create a good harmony and understanding among politicians and intellectuals in abroad and inside Africa. 

I know this will not be easy business; however, it must be fought by any means possible. Your pen should be your gun. We do not hate anyone but we love our freedom. Say No for Neocolonialism in whatever form. Act before it is too late.

Paulos Fasil

the writer can be contacted via al_lulas@yahoo.com